So this past weekend I was inspired by Captain Lou’s passing as well as some water cooler talk about “the best manager” to rent the WWE World’s Greatest Wrestling Managers DVD. I enjoyed the look back at the greats, it's a fun rental. However I was surprised that someone like Paul Heyman got a substantial amount of spotlight as a manager in the AWA whereas Mr. Fuji, who despite the inclusion of Fuji Vice in the extras, didn’t get much attention at all. He’s managed many champions and was a part of the WWF/E for many, many years.
Why do you think he got the snub?
Because he was a terrible manager, mainly I’d guess. Yeah, he was a great guy and decent worker and an easy source of heat, but it’s not like he was adding much to guys like Muraco or Demolition who could already talk for themselves just fine. There’s not really any highlight reel of catchphrases or great interviews from him to focus on, either, like you get with Jimmy Hart, Bobby Heenan or Freddie Blassie. He was really just a shorthand way for the promotion to establish that someone on the borderline of crowd reactions is DEFINITELY a heel. Like Berzerker, where people didn’t really know whether to cheer or boo the act, so they stuck Fuji with him randomly and people were like “Oh, it’s Fuji, let’s boo him.”
That being said, much love to him for his sense of humor and being around all those years, plus of course for Fuji Vice.
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